It's funny but I've never thought very highly of the month of November. The weather gets colder (but rarely cold enough for lasting snow), days become shorter, and the landscape appears gray with no leaves left on the trees. But a recent trip has given me a new found respect for the 11th month on the calendar.

My morning drive through the Wentworth Valley enroute to Malagash was nothing short of stunning. The fall colours were still in their prime and I counted four white tail deer in fields along the way. I was heading to Bay Enterprises where I was about to learn about the wonderful world of oysters and quahogs.

As a mother, I know there is nothing I want to hear less than "Mom, I'm bored", especially if there is a whole week off school in which to be bored. As the mom of a 12 year old, I know she would probably like nothing more than to be dropped off at the mall every day. But I still think there is some fun to be had for the kid in all of us. So here are some of my picks for March Break fun in Nova Scotia.

It wasn't until I saw the giant strawberry smiling from the roadside in Great Village that I came to the realization that we were home to a surprising number of giants here in Nova Scotia. I started to make a list.

Full-bodied and lusty, with a hint of impulsiveness...no, this is not how I'd describe myself (...close though). This is the description of the newest wine I had the privilege of tasting recently at Jost Vineyards in Malagash called "4 Skins". It wasn't until I said the name out loud that my face actually turned the color of this fine beverage.

The loss of the White Star Liner RMS Titanic needs no introduction for anyone alive today. On its maiden voyage in 1912 the great vessel suffered irreversible damage, after a glancing blow from an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on 14 April 1912 opened five water-tight compartments to the in-rushing sea. At 2:20 a.m. the following day, 15 April, the technological marvel of the Edwardian Age sank.

Hearses lined up on Halifax wharf, near present jetty 4 in HMCS Dockyard to take R.M.S. Titanic victims recovered by C.S. Minia.

Whether you're visiting from out of town or you've lived here all your life, it's good to know there's plenty to do around Halifax that won't cost you a penny.

Let's start with the art galleries. Just a few blocks from Celebration Square, the Anna Leonowens Gallery is named after the famous heroine of The King and I who went on to establish the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design. There and at NSCAD's new Port Loggia Gallery, you can view exhibitions featuring art by NSCAD University students and faculty. And be sure to check out our other university art galleries too. Dalhousie, Saint Mary's and Mount Saint Vincent all have excellent public art programming, and admission is always free.